[Kjølen]

Hello. I have a May 2007 MacBook Pro, and I'm thinking of maxing out my RAM to 4GB. My current RAM runs at 5-5-5-15 speeds, which is fine for me. However, I found two G.Skill RAM kits on Newegg, which are exactly alike, save for price and latency. The $40 RAM has 5-5-5-15 timings and the $50 RAM has 4-4-4-12 timings. My questions are as follows:

1) Will the MacBook's EFI automatically force the latency to 5 or will it allow the latency supported by the SPD on the memory modules?

2) If it does set my RAM to CAS4, I realize that Mac OS X probably won't be affected by the latency. However, I'll be using Boot Camp to dual-boot with Windows for some gaming. In a normal Windows machine, CAS4 RAM theoretically could improve performance by up to 20% over CAS5 RAM. Will that still hold true in a MacBook Pro?

3) Bearing this in mind, is the extra $10 worth it for otherwise identical RAM kits?

Reference material:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231154

 

[sinclair_tm]

When it comes to Macs, you should always use RAM that either states that it is certified for the Mac you are putting it in, or has identical specs to the RAM that Apple puts in it, otherwise you will have problems down the road. Personally, I buy all my Mac RAM from one place because they certify it to work in the Mac, and it comes with a life time warranty. That is Other World Computing.

 

[Kjølen]

Well, no offense, but that really didn't answer any of my questions. I'm not really into spending more money on "Mac RAM" because an SO-DIMM is an SO-DIMM to me. So long as I'm buying quality-brand RAM that has been tested many times by many reviewers in Macbooks (which both modules I posted have), I have no qualms with going G.Skill on Newegg. My main concern is with the latency, right now.

 

[sinclair_tm]

Like I said, use the RAM that meets the specs that Apple has posted, and you will be fine, otherwise there will be problems. Latency isn't listed, so what I know about RAM, as long as you don't mix different latency, you should be fine. But I personally would get the ones with the same as the stock.